This Is Radio Clash

The Clash

About This Is Radio Clash

"This Is Radio Clash" is a song by the English punk rock band the Clash. The 1981 single was issued in 7-inch format and also in 12-inch format and cassette tape with additional tracks. The first public performance of the song was on Tom Snyder's Tomorrow show on 5 June 1981. The song is not featured on any of the Clash's original studio albums, but is included in their compilations: The Singles (1991), The Story of the Clash, Volume 1, Sound System, Singles Box, The Singles (2007) and Clash on Broadway. American critic Eric Schafer said this of the song - "it is a magnificent, daring, challenging record that was years ahead of its time; one of the great rock records of the 1980s, it has never been given its just credit. Twenty-eight years after its debut, were it released today it would still burn up the radio."The song is included on the experimental compilation album called Disco Not Disco 2 (2002) as well as the radio soundtrack in Battlefield Hardline. The song was also briefly featured in season 2 of Stranger Things in episode 4. 


Year:
1991
#1

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Interrupting all programs

This is radio clash from pirate satellite

Orbiting your living room,
Cashing in the bill of rights
Cuban army surplus or refusing all third lights
This is radio clash on pirate satellite

This sound does not subscribe
To the international plan
In the psycho shadow of the white right hand
Then that see ghettology as an urban Vietnam
Giving deadly exhibitions of murder by napalm

This is radio clash tearing up the seven veils
This is radio clash please save us, not the whales
This is radio clash underneath a mushroom cloud
This is radio clash
You don't need that funeral shroud

Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty

Hands of law have sorted through
My identity
But now this sound is brave
And wants to be free - anyway to be free

This is Radio clash on pirate satellite
This is not free Europe
Not an armed force network
This is Radio Clash using audio ammunition
This is Radio Clash can we get that world to listen?
This is Radio Clash using aural ammunition
This is Radio Clash can we get that world to listen?
This is Radio Clash on pirate satellite
Orbiting your living room,
Cashing in the bill of rights
This is radio Clash on pirate satellite
This is radio Clash  everybody hold on tight

A-riggy diggy dig dang dang

Go back to urban 'nam

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The Clash

The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly. For most of their recording career, the Clash consisted of Joe Strummer (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Mick Jones (lead guitar, vocals), Paul Simonon (bass guitar, vocals) and Nicky "Topper" Headon (drums, percussion). Headon left the group in 1982, and internal friction led to Jones's departure the following year. The group continued with new members, but finally disbanded in early 1986. more »

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Written by: JOE STRUMMER, MICK JONES, PAUL SIMONON, TOPPER HEADON

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


13 facts about this song

Release Date
"This Is Radio Clash" was released as a single by The Clash in November 1981.
Non-Album Terminal
Interestingly, this song does not appear on any of their studio albums. It was intended to be a stand-alone release.
Song Composition
The band member Mick Jones and Joe Strummer share the songwriting credit for "This Is Radio Clash."
Unique Sound Elements
The song incorporates elements of dub, funk, and hip hop, showcasing The Clash's versatility and innovative musical style.
Successful Charts Performance
Upon release, the song achieved significant success, reaching No. 47 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 17 on Billboard's Club Play Singles chart in the United States.
Music Video
The music video for "This Is Radio Clash" was directed by Don Letts, a frequent collaborator of the band.
Cover Art
The cover of the single was designed by Hazel O'Connor and Paddy Woods, and it features an image of Nicaraguan guerrilla leader Cesar Augusto Sandino.
Symbolic Lyrics
Lyrically, the song carries strong political messages, a characteristic feature of The Clash's music. It criticizes mainstream media and promotes the idea of pirate radio stations as rebellious alternatives.
Live Performances
Despite not being included in any studio album, "This Is Radio Clash" was frequently performed live by the band in the early 1980s.
Legacy
The song is often cited as a precursor to the rap rock genre and it has been referenced in numerous other songs and sampled by several hip-hop artists, underlining its lasting influence.
Reissue
"This Is Radio Clash" was reissued in 1988 as part of The Clash's compilation album, "The Story of The Clash, Volume 1."
B-Side
The single's B-side contained two additional versions of the song, "Radio Clash" and "Outside Broadcast."
Critical Acclaim
Rolling Stone magazine placed "This Is Radio Clash" on their list of The 100 Best Singles of the Last 25 Years in 1988.

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